Nehemiah 8:1-19 The Joy of the Lord is Your Strenght

Nehemiah 8 Verses  9 to 12 The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength August 31, 2025 Lesson 9 The Relentless Pursuit of Obedience Class Presentation Notes AA AAA

Background Scriptures: 

Nehemiah 8:1-19

Main Idea:

· When Ezra read from God’s Word in the presence of all the people, they fell on their faces in repentance and worship.

Study Aim:

· To understand that when God’s Word was proclaimed to His people, they were broken, repentant, and experienced the joy of the Lord.

Create Interest:

· Both Ezra and Nehemiah begin with building projects that, once completed, allow the focus to shift to the rebuilding of God’s people:

o Ezra 1–6—Rebuilt Temple

o Ezra 7–10—Rebuilt People

o Nehemiah 1–6—Rebuilt Wall

o Nehemiah 7–13—Rebuilt People

· In Nehemiah 8:1–12, Ezra read the law, and the people responded to it in humble repentance. This passage is like a new celebration of the Torah given at Sinai, and when God spoke the Ten Commandments from the fire on the mountaintop the people responded with humble commitment, as the returnees do here. Then in verses 13–18, the people celebrated the Festival of Booths.

· The Festival of Booths was about the way God sustained His people while they dwelt in tents, sojourning through the wilderness. When the Festival is celebrated in this chapter, it is celebrated by people whom God has sustained through a sojourn back to the land of promise and through their efforts to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Ezra had returned to Jerusalem in 458 b.c., 14 years before Nehemiah, also with the blessing of King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7). His primary purpose in going to his homeland was to teach the Jews God’s Law.

· In Ezra 7:6, 11–12, 21 he was called a teacher. Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries (cf. Neh. 12:33, 36).

· When Ezra first arrived in Jerusalem, the moral and spiritual condition of the people was deplorable (Ezra 9:1–4; 10:2, 10).

o But as he prayerfully taught them God’s Word, they began to respond to and obey the laws of God. A few years later Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and challenged them to trust God to help them rebuild the walls.

· The effectiveness of Ezra’s ministry is also reflected in the people’s behavior after the walls were completed. The two-month building program was an interlude in Ezra’s teaching, but apparently it helped motivate the people to want to know more of God’s Law.They themselves asked Ezra to continue his teaching ministry among them (Neh. 8:1). This was the first day of the seventh month, the day which was to be the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1). Adults and children who were old enough to understand (Neh. 8:2–3) listened attentively all morning as Ezra faced west by the Water Gate(cf. v. 1).[2]

Bible Study:

Nehemiah 8:1–8 (NASB95)   Ezra Reads the Law

   1     And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lordhad given to Israel.

   2     Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

   3     He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

   4     Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.

   5     Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

   6     Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lordwith their faces to the ground.

   7     Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place.

   8     They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

· The setting of chapter 8 seems to be indicated in the last verse of the previous chapter (7:73): “And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities Ezra now comes on the scene and at the beginning of the seventh month is requested by the leaders of the Jews to read from the Book of the Law.

· Meanwhile a large congregation had assembled, both of men and of women, in a prominent area of Jerusalem to listen to Ezra. A special elevated platform[]had been erected for the purpose before the water gate (v. 3), about five hundred yards south of the Temple area.

o With a number of Levites to assist him on the right and on the left, Ezra, after due ceremony, stands before the people and read to them the law from the morning until midday.

o When Ezra opened the book (v. 5), he was, of course, unrolling a scroll. At this signal all the people stood up.

· After he opened the Word, “Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God” (v. 6).

o In many churches, there is a blessing after the reading of the Scripture; but there is certainly nothing wrong with praising the Lord for His Word before we read and hear it.

o The people affirmed his words by saying “Amen, Amen” (see 5:13), which means “So be it!” It was a united congregation (vs. 8:1) that honored the Scriptures and was willing to devote half of their day to hearing it read and taught. They didn’t worship the Book; they worshiped the Lord who spoke to them from the Book.

· The manner in which the Levites assisted Ezra is not very clear. In verse 8we are told that they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

o It would appear that the reading and interpretation were done by several people.

o Perhaps Ezra read in the Hebrew and the Levites were assigned to paraphrasing or translating into Chaldaic or Aramaic, the language which became popular during the Exile.

§ With some modification, this language was spoken even in Jesus’ day.

§ Whatever was necessary to make the meaning clear was certainly done, for we are told that the people were made to understand.[3]

Thoughts to Soak on before moving on:

· Our churches today have a desperate need in their public services to show more respect for the Word of God. We are commanded to “give attention to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Tim. 4:13, NASB)

o 1 Timothy 4:13 (NASB95)

              Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

· Every church has a ritual, either a good one or a bad one. We wonder how the Holy Spirit feels when He sees Bibles put on the church floor, or used as portable filing cabinets for miscellaneous papers, or even left behind in church where they are stacked up and finally given to the local city mission. We will defendthe Bible as the Word of God, but we don’t always treat it like the Word of God.

o We are also in too big a hurry to have the meeting end. In some parts of the world, especially in Eastern Europe before the collapse of the Communist bloc, believers would stand for hours in crowded churches to hear Bible teaching.

o  In the average Western evangelical church, the shorter the sermon, the better we like it.

· He read and explained the Book (Neh. 8:7–8). The common people didn’t own copies of the Scriptures, so they were thrilled to hear the Word of God. The word distinctly in verse 8 means that the Law was explained to the people in a language they could understand. The Word was translated and expounded in such a way that the people were able to apply it to their own lives.[4]

Nehemiah 8:9 Awakening to Our Brokenness

     9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest andscribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

· Vs.  9:  The people were broken and wept openly when they heard God’s laws. The word “wept”is from the Hebrew word bakah {baw-kaw’} which means “to bewail, to weep in grief, bitterness, and humiliation.” These folks were broken when they realized how far they were from obeying God’s Word. Conviction had set in their hearts. They had guilt and sorrow over their sin.

· This was the beginning phase of revival … brokenness over disobedience. The weeping must have been intense for Ezra to stop and tell them not to weep.

o At times, guilt is an excellent, motivational factor. Not all guilt is bad.

§ Guilt is often what God uses to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thought to Soak on:

· After years of exile, the people gathered with Ezra to hear the reading of God's Word. As Ezra opened the scroll, the people stood in reverence. The moment was intense, filled with hushed anticipation. When the Word was proclaimed, it cut to their hearts, and they fell on their faces in repentance. This act of humility and authenticity illustrates how powerful God's Word can be, not only teaching us but also leading us to profound moments of reflection and worship.

· Imagine a community, weary from the struggles of life, gathering to hear a message of hope from long ago. As Ezra stands before the people, he reads God's laws aloud, which stir their spirits. Realizing how far they’ve strayed, they lay prostrate in repentance. This scene reminds us that the Word of God still has the power to wreak havoc on our pride and awaken our spirits, calling us back to a place of worship and recognition of our need for Him.

o This emotional response underscores our brokenness before God, prompting genuine repentance as essential to transformation.

§ Through Christ, we see the culmination of this brokenness in our need for repentance, leading us to rely on His grace for joy and healing.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NASB95)  Joy as our Strength

10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

· Beloved, celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.

o Living for others shifts the focus of your life from yourself to others.

§  Meeting the needs of people will give you joy

Enter into celebrations that honor God and allow Him to fill you with His joy.[5]

· The Torah had been widely ignored in the period up to the exile; that is why the exile happened. Ezra came to Jerusalem to get the community there to start living by it, and the implication would be that as far as they were concerned, his scroll said things they had never heard before. They do not make ignorance an excuse.

· Paradoxically, we might think, Ezra points out to them that they have no business being mournful, because it is a holy day. We might assume that the holiness of the day makes for solemnity and that mourning over one’s sins would fit. Ezra’s assumption is the opposite.

· The holiness of the day issues from its being a reminder of what God has done for the people, which makes for rejoicing.

o The holiness of God lies in being a God of grace and mercy, which makes for celebration. So, they ought to go and eat and drink after a hard day’s listening to the Torah.

o The eating and drinking will be the kind of celebratory fellowship meal associated with an occasion such as Passover and with the offering of a thanksgiving sacrifice, when people who come to worship together also share in the part of the sacrifice that the Torah allocates to them.

o It again fits with the Torah’s teaching that when they celebrate, they do not just go home and forget about other people, but think about whether there are people they need to invite into their celebration, like families in the United States who do not treat Thanksgiving as merely a family gathering but ask who are the needy or lonely that they can invite in.

§ The people who have nothing prepared might be in that position because of their own inefficiency, but that is no reason to leave them out of a celebration of God’s generosity.[6]

Thought to Soak On:

· The people's response signifies a profound encounter with the holiness of God. It challenges us today: when we engage with Scripture, do we expect it to move us similarly?  Discuss………….

o Can we humble ourselves to the point of genuine repentance, experiencing God’s transformative presence among us?

· In Christ, this joy is fulfilled through His redeeming work, offering believers strength and comfort. God's Word transitions from revealing flaws to offering redemption, teaching us that true strength comes from His joy. 

o Luke 10:27 (NASB95)

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Nehemiah 8:11–12 (NASB95)  Celebrating Devine Joy

11     So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”

12     All the people went away to eat, drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

· This festival had to receive its real character as a day of joy.  The people were sent to their homes to eat and drink, because it must be a day of rejoicing. The people should realize that in their joy in the Lord would lie in their strength.

o Eat of the best, literally “eat of the fat,” which means the choicest and thus the best..

o Send a portion. For those who were unable to prepare anything for the festival, a portion must be sent out of generosity.

§ The people must realize that in spite of their sins the Lord will be their strength, their protection during the coming year.

· The Levites succeeded in calming the people down. Afterward the people went to their homes for the festival. What kind of meal at home is intended here? Could it be an agápē-meal? It is difficult to tell. They went to their homes and feasted with great joy, rejoicing in the Lord.

o We should expect that it was a meal of thanksgiving for what they had received. That is why a portion was sent to poor neighbors. The Lord gave them all the things they possessed. In the coming year he would give them again what they needed.[7]

Thought to soak on:

· Believers are invited to celebrate God's grace and salvation found in Christ. This celebration is rooted in faith and the transformative power of Scripture, leading to renewed joy and communal rejoicing.

Closing thoughts on Worship:

· Worship is the true language of faith. We often talk about the Lord. This is legitimate and right when we teach, preach, and witness for Him; however, the basic language of believers is not talking about God but talking to God.This is based on a personal relation with God that is expressed in prayer and praise.

· A basic issue is the relationship between worship and the Word. In the Bible the two go together. Many groups place the Word at the center of their worship. The Word inspires worship. No matter what form worships takes, we do know that:

o Worship must be based on a personal experience with God and an understanding of His Word.

o Hearing God’s Word leads to fervent worship.

o Worship styles may differ, but true worship is based on God’s Word and leads to praising the Lord.

o True praise is joyful and reverent.

Rejoice, the Lord is King:

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks and sing.

And triumph evermore:

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Closing Thoughts on Joy as we have it now through Christ

· In the New Testament, joy is distinguished from pleasure. The word for pleasure is hedone, from which we get our word hedonist. This word is associated with sinful pleasures, seeking happiness in selfish and ungodly ways.

· Christian joy is also different from what most people think of as happiness. They think of happiness as something conditioned on the right set of circumstances, but Christian joy can rejoice even in troubles, as long as the person is in the center of God’s will.[8]

What lessons can we draw from our examination of these verses?

· The Word of God leads to godly sorrow and repentance: then it leads to joy.

· Believers need to listen attentively, understand, and obey the Word of God.

· Joy comes from a right relationship with the Lord and is not conditioned on outward circumstances.

· Joy is expressed in celebration of God’s Word, fellowship, worship, sharing with others, and obedience…and now lets travel across the time bridge to today.

Let’s summarize what we learned from Pastor Taylor 8-24-25  The Prayers of Confession

Cleansing Through Christ ….. unavailable in Nehemiah’s time

Bible Passage: 1 John 1:5-2:2

· Summary: In this passage, we learn about the nature of God as light and the importance of confession in maintaining fellowship with Him. John emphasizes that walking in the light leads to cleansing from sin, while denying our sinfulness damages our relationship with God.

o  Moreover, the assurance of our advocate, Jesus Christ, highlights God's provision for our sins.

1. God's Light Illuminates

1 John 1:5–7 (NASB95) God Is Light

   5     This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

   6     If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yetwalk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

   7     but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

· We see the contrast between God's perfect light and our human darkness. By acknowledging this disparity, we note that true fellowship with God requires a conscious decision to walk in His light.

· This involves honesty with ourselves and with God about our sin, making confession a vital practice.  Jesus' blood purifies us, emphasizing His central role in cleansing away sin.

2. Grace Through Admission/Confession of Sins

1 John 1:8–9 (NASB95)

   8     If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

   9     If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

· Emphasize the necessity of confession by highlighting our natural tendency to deny sin.

o These verses stress that ignoring our sin creates self-deception and breaks our bond with God.

o Encouragement can be found in authentic admission and repentance, where confessing brings forgiveness and purity.

o This point might suggest the freeing power of acknowledging our imperfections and relying on God's faithfulness and righteousness.

3. Forgiveness Secured Through Christ

1 John 1:10–2:2 (NASB95)

10     If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

   1     My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

   2     and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

· Examine these verses to showcase the serious consequences of claiming sinlessness, essentially calling God a liar.

· Illustrate how crucial it is to accept God's truth about our nature and rejoice in the provision of Christ as our advocate.

· Highlight Jesus' sacrificial role for atonement and how it assures believers of sustained intimacy with God despite our failures.

Examples from the Bible to encourage you as you go your way.

· When King David confessed his sins in Psalm 51, he recognized that his disobedience not only grieved God but also tainted his soul. He pleaded for a clean heart and renewed spirit, demonstrating that true confession is humbling and transformative.

o  Just as David sought cleansing from sin, we too, through sincere confession, can restore our relationship with God, reminding us that it is only when we admit our faults that we find true freedom and purity.

· In the New Testament, the story of the prodigal son illustrates the power of confession. Upon realizing his mistakes, the son returns to his father, admitting his wrongdoings. The father's embrace signifies that true restoration follows sincere confession.

o This parable teaches us that, like the prodigal, when we confess our sins, we are welcomed back into the fold, demonstrating that God's grace and forgiveness cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

· The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 is a profound example of how confession leads to transformation.

o When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, he publicly confessed his wrongs and promised to repay those he had cheated. This act of confession not only highlighted his desire for change but also marked the beginning of his new life.

o  It shows us that confession is not just an admission of guilt but a pivotal step toward spiritual renewal.

· James 5:16 tells us, 'Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.'

o  This verse emphasizes that confession is essential for healing, suggesting that acknowledging our shortcomings brings spiritual wholeness.

o In our communities, when we foster an environment of openness, we enable one another to experience the restorative power of confession, reinforcing the truth that we are cleansed when we bring our sins into the light.

· In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement was a sacred occasion where the high priest would confess the sins of the people and symbolically place them on the scapegoat, sending it away into the wilderness.

o This ritual demonstrates the seriousness of confession as a means of removing guilt from the community.

o It points to how our confessions not only impact ourselves but also hold the power to cleanse and heal the body of Christ collectively.

Grace and peace as you go your way…………………………………………………………….

[1]James M. Hamilton Jr. et al., Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 151.

[2]Gene A. Getz, “Nehemiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 689.

[3]C. E. Demaray, “The Book of Nehemiah,” in Joshua through Esther, vol. II, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1965), Ne 8:1–12.

[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 97–100.

[5]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Nehemiah, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2008), 246.

[6]John Goldingay, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther for Everyone, Old Testament for Everyone (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2012), 123–125.

[7]F. Charles Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982), 219.

[8]Robert J. Dean, Family Bible Study, Summer 2002, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, 2002), 18.